Jo-Ann Paul
Husband is Resident at ManorCare, Camp Hill
My name is Jo-Ann Paul, and I’m currently a resident of ManorCare Camp Hill, in the Personal Care Unit. My husband is also a resident of ManorCare, in the Skilled Care Unit, where he receives 24-hour-a-day nursing care.
I have been there almost two and a half years, and my husband has been there 12 years due to a fall that left him with traumatic brain injuries.
It was a difficult, yet necessary, decision to place my husband in long-term care, and equally as difficult as well for me to give up my home and job to move into ManorCare.
But when health problems arise and there is no other alternative, it’s comforting to know there are places such as ManorCare where residents are treated with kindness and respect. The peace of mind it brings also adds to an overall sense of well-being.
People are living longer today, and it’s not always possible to keep a loved one at home. So, the need for nursing homes, and the vital funding that is necessary to keep them strong, creates a great concern for us all.
Qualified and adequate staffing is also imperative, reassuring families that their loved ones are receiving the excellent care they both need and deserve. I don’t know what my husband and I would do without the caregivers who help us daily.
At ManorCare Camp Hill, we are fortunate to have a highly qualified medical director, an excellent management team and outstanding staff to provide care and services --- and not just to us, but to all residents. But keeping these dedicated men and women means making sure government funding for nursing homes keeps pace.
Facilities simply can’t go on absorbing the difference between their daily costs and the current medical assistance rates.
The excellent medical care my husband receives is also supplemented by a daily activities schedule that he can look forward to. He is always encouraged to attend and join in with the games, sing-a-longs, etc. He not only enjoys himself and loves to participate, but in addition, it makes my husband feel as though he truly belongs and that ManorCare and its staff are his “home and family.” Holidays are also made into special occasions for all residents.
Several years ago the Activities Department arranged for a trip to Lehigh University to see the Eagles training camp. My husband is a huge Eagles fan and with some help from ManorCare, he was able to meet the entire team, get their autographs and have his picture taken with all of the team. He was thrilled and will never forget that day. In fact, a framed picture of he and Donovan McNabb hangs proudly in his room to this day.